Miniature rail chair and tie plate for scale models



Aug. 26,1947. A. HAZEN 2,426,452

MINIATURE- RAIL CHAIR AND TIE PLATE FOR SCALE MODDELS Filed March 23, 1944 Inventor j/Zen jfa zezp 4/ Patented Aug. 26 194'? MINIATURE RAIL CHAIR AND TIE PLATE FOR SCALE MODELS Allen Hazen, West Buxton. Maine Application March 23, 1944, Serial No. 527,799 7 3 Claims. (Cl. 238-287) This invention relates to a miniature railroad track and improved method and means for building the same, the complete assemblage and association of parts being such as to serve either as a toy or a model 'bui lders scale model.

Although the invention is characterized primarily by an improved tie-plate or rail-chair, I desire that it be construed to comprehend the complete miniature track assemblage, that is, the ties and rails in combination, and a special tool or implement for securing the rails in said chairs.

An outstanding phase of the invention as above implied is a novel rail-chair or tie-plate as it is sometimes called, this phase of the broader inventive concept being carried out in two forms having common characteristics such as a shouldered chair or seat for the base flange, spurs to be embedded in the wooden ties and bendable l g or detents forsecuring the rails in place.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawmgs.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, that is, an end elevational view showing the novel rail chair with a track rail partly secured in place.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chair per se, this being one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is an elevational View of the complete track assemblage made up in accordance with my ideas.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the rail-chair, that is, the type of chair seen in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive.

Figure 5 is an elevational view, similar to Figure 1, showing a sheet metal type of rail-chair with parts struck out.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chair depicted in Figure 5.

Reference is to be had to Figures 1 to 4, in-

clusive, this to start with. As shown in these .figures the wooden cross-tie, a miniature type, is denoted by the numeral 9. The corresponding :miniature track rail is indicated at [0 and the :companion tie-plate or rail chair is denoted, generally as a unit by the numeral l I.

outwardly and downwardly as to form customarily-shaped flanges l5. Rising in alternate positions from opposite end portions of the shoulders M are upstanding bendable tongues or lugs 16 which are adapted to be bent down over the base flange l3. These elements 16 are sufficiently malleable to readily'take their final shapes when put under pressure. In case it is necessary to employ spare spikes, I provide spike holes or openings I! at suitably spaced points. For purposes of securin the entire unit II to the tie I provide pointed anchoring spurs or prongs 98 these projecting from the bottom of the chair. As seen in Figure 4 the prongs are arranged in'triple association, that is, in staggered relation at opposite ends and one at the center. This provides for uniformity of anchorage in a small tie-plate or chair of this type.

Fundamentally, the sheet metal chair lid in Figures 5 and 6 i the same as that already described. This chair Ila comprises a U.-sh aped central portion the bight or web [9 coacting with the-side Walls of the channel as at 20 and forming a seat fol the base flange as well as confining'shoulders, The marginal edge portions of the sheet material are bent outwardly and downwardly as at 2| to define shaping and bracing flanges. Bendable tongues or lugs 22 are struck out at the points indicated in Figure 6'to provide the detent to overlie the base flange of the rail. The prongs or spurs 23 are also struck out from the main body of material and these are bent downwardly to be embedded in the ties. Finally apertures 24 are provided to accommodate additional spikes (not shown) if desired.

At "this point I direct attention to the following advantageous features:

1. The tie-plate will be attached to the tie as a part of the manufacturing process; the shoulders and ears on the plate will hold the rails to a predetermined gauge, eliminating the need of a track gauge while building track.

2. The prongs on the bottom of my plates eliminate entirely the need for separate handdriven spikes, except at places of unusual strain,

as on extremely sharp curves or immediately ad:

jacent to weak places in the track, as at switches and rail joints. I do intend to leave open holes in my plate, to allow for extra spikes if they be thought necessary.

3. Because the plates are separate units, it is unnecessary to cut'them apart when building curved track, and the ties are not restricted to a fixed spacing.

4. The shoulders on my plate will effectively hold the rail to gauge and line, independently of the bent prongs.

It is anticipated that this miniature assemblage or construction might be used on model or toy track ranging in gauge from one-half inch to five or six inches, but it is not inferred that it could not be used for either larger or smaller arrangements. Likewise the normal material for the ties will probably be wood, and the tie-plates will probably be metal, and the present disclosure is made with this in mind, but it is possible that other materials may be more appro; priate at the time of manufacture. For electrical reasons, the tie would probably be an insuj: lating material, but either tie or tie-plate or both could be of either insulating or conducting material, depending upon the circumstances. The rail used is presumed to be a rolled or drawn metal section of the general type at present used for scale-model railroad track construction, and follows full-sized railroad practice as to shape and relative proportions. 'The size and shape or the rail do not afiect this invention, except as they affect the size and spacing of the shoulders on the tie-plate. A tie-plate with a single shoulder or no shoulder at all could be used with these prongs, but the double shoulder gives the strongest construction and'is in line with the latest practice on full-sized railroads.

The ultimate purpose of my invention is to provide a means to build strong and realistic appearing track with a minimum amount of labor. It is contemplated that my type of track will be used chiefly for model purposes, rather than for toy railroad purposes, because it may be found too complicated and perhaps too expensive to appeal to the toy trade; This is making a dis tinction, which in actual fact is by no means sharp, between model railroads, usually built and operated by adultsas a hobby, an'dtoyrailroads, used by children.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understandingof the invention,

after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description isregarded as unnecessary;

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resortedto in'actualpractice,if desired.

Having describedthe invention, hatisclaimed asnewis:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a miniature rail chair for useinponne'ctionwithfltoy and scale model railroads comprising'a body having a central channel-shapedrail 'base chair ex:

tending and opening through opposite ends of said body and having marginal upstanding shoulders of a height to match and coact with the longitudinal edges of the rail base, the portions of said body extending beyond said shoulders constituting outwardly and downwardly sloping flanges for ballast and anchoring purposes, a pair of pointed anchoring prongs depending from the under side of said body and located adjacent diagonally opposite corners of the rail base chair of said body, and integral upstanding bendable lugs on said shoulders serving as detents to be bent over marginal edge portions of said rail base, said lugs being in alignment with said shoulders and being diagonally opposite one anothor. 2 As a new article of manufacture a miniature type rail chair and tie-plate comprising a single cast body including a central channelshaped portion with bordering marginal shoulders, and tapered portions projecting outwardly beyond the shoulders on opposite sides, a series ofpointed prongs depending from the bottom of the body for anchorage in a tie, spike holes at predetermined points in said body, and a pair of alternate longitudinally spaced upstanding bendable tongues on said shoulders to serve as retaining detents for the base flange of the rail.

3. A miniature combination rail chair and tieplate formed from sheet metal bent intermediate its ends into a channel-shaped portion including upstanding marginal shoulders for engagement with longitudinal edges ofthe base flange of the rail, the outer edge portions of said body being directed outwardly and downwardly to form sloping flanges to rest on a tie, a plurality of depending pointed prongs struck out from said body to serve as anchoring elements, and a plurality of upstanding bendable tongues in alignment with said shoulders to serve as base flange engaging detents.

ALLEN HAZEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,316,049 Levaire Sept. 16,1919 1,842,814 An'way Jan. 26, 1932 557,667 Griffin Apr. 7, 1896 522,867 'Wils0n July 10, 1894 911,230 Goldie Feb. 2, 1909 1,151,891 McGonigal Aug. 31, 1913 1,322,781 Frey Nov. 25, 1919 1,349,814 Carr Aug, 17, 1920 

